the latest: "Copyright Modernization Act of 2006"

From: Public Knowledge <[email protected]>
Subject: [PK Action] S1RA: Licensing Problems for Consumers and Innovators

A new bill to be introduced in the House of Representatives called the
"Copyright Modernization Act of 2006," pulls together a number of
copyright-related bills that have been floating around. One of those
is HR 5553, titled "Section 115 Reform Act" (aka S1RA or SIRA), which
is the latest music licensing reform bill to determine the terms
online music services and digital music player manufacturers must
abide by.

If you're worried, you should be–S1RA is a grab-bag of new licensing
terms and exemptions for the music publishers that once again may
limit consumers' rights. Here are two major problems with S1RA that
you need to know:

1. Online music services may have to acquire a new license to
permit temporary copies of songs to be stored on their
servers–in cache or memory buffers. These "incidental" copies
have traditionally been considered "fair use" for music
providers. Any new associated costs will likely get passed on to
consumers.

2. The bill incentivizes music services to *prevent*
consumer-friendly activities like time-shifting for future
listening–think TiVo for your XM radio. So much for home
recording.

With little time left in the legislative session before the elections,
the bill may be up for vote this week in the House Judiciary
Committee, unless you have something to say about it.

Tell your Representatives that if music licensing need to be reformed,
the current version of the "Section 115 Reform Act" is the wrong way
to do it. S1RA ties the hands of innovators who are developing cool
new features and limits what consumers can do with their lawfully
obtained content. And tell them now!

We've made it easy for you, just go to:

http://www.publicknowledge.org/node/623/act

And follow the instructions to send a letter to Congress. We'll fax
your letter to House Judiciary Committee Chairman F. James
Sensenbrenner, Jr., Ranking Member John Conyers, Jr., and your own
Representative, if a member of the committee.

Thank you from the Public Knowledge Team!

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